Maryland legislators and advocates are partnering to propose the creation of Health Equity Resource Communities to boost funding and reduce disparities in certain targeted areas.

The Health Equity Resource Communities program would be funded through a 1% increase in the alcohol tax. The bill to create the program will be sponsored by Delegates Erek Barron and Jazz Lewis.

Maryland Matters reports:

The proposal would create Health Equity Resource Communities, five areas that would receive extra funding for programs that boost access to health treatment and reduce conditions like heart disease and diabetes that have been linked to illness and death.

It is modeled after the Health Enterprise Zones Program, which ran from 2012 until 2016 under Gov. Martin J. O’Malley (D). That initiative was given five years of funding and was allowed to expire by his successor, Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R).

For more information:

Lawmakers, Advocates to Unveil Program to Reduce Health Care Disparities (Maryland Matters)